The expenditure further ensures the city's 9 percent stake in the massive water storage project would remain in place. NISP would involve building two reservoirs to hold water for 15 participants, including Fort Morgan and Morgan County Quality Water District, which has a 3.25 percent share.

"As we go into the 10th year of the NISP project we continue to have to pay for our portion of the ongoing activities," Water Resources/Utilities Director Brent Nation said.

The money the city is giving to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District for 2014 participation will go toward providing more information to the Army Corps of Engineers by consultants from Northern Water, as well as to administrative costs for Northern Water, "continuing engineering efforts" and "a fair amount" of public relations work, Nation explained.

"We've been working with the various members that are participants in the NISP project, and our latest report was actually one of the most positive reports that I think we've heard in a long time," City Manager Jeff Wells said. "The've actually come up with a date when we're going to get the supplemental (environmental impact statement)back for public comment," likely in July.

He said that once public comment is opened, it gets closer to ending that portion of the study and moving toward a decision about permitting the project from the Army Corps of Engineers.

"We know that water is like gold," Mayor Terry McAlister said. "We know that with the water that we get now. And we are very fortunate that our forefathers did think of the water that we are drinking now."

He said he remembered when the decisions were made to "put the city in debt for a ton of money," but that now it was obvious that it had been a smart choice.

"We have to look at the future. We have to look 100 years, 150 years from now," the mayor said. "If we don't do this water project, if we don't plan 100 years from now, there's only so much water out there."

He pointed out that if the city did not have enough water, industry would die and farmers would not be able to grow enough food.

"I know it's a big expenditure for this council to be looking at," the mayor said. "What are we getting for the $90,000? At this point it looks like we're getting nothing, but you have to look 100 years from now and look at your great-grandchildren and how are they going to survive without water?"

He pointed to water shortage and quality problems the city's neighbors have had, including in Wiggins, Hillrose and Sterling, due to not planning far enough ahead and taking the risk by spending money.

"It seems like a hard bullet to bite when you feel like you're not getting anything for your money, but I think the governor has realized and is on the same page," McAlister said. "He understands ... that the idea to keep that water in Colorado if we can and to supply northeast Colorado with water."

Nation pointed out that state-level water conversations had shifted from discussing the possibility of building NISP to the more of an attitude of it "has to be built."

"We've got such a large gap in our water needs," Nation said. "NISP doesn't even come close to filling the needs of water for northern Colorado. It helps fill the gap, but it just doesn't get us there.

In happier water-related news, Nation also announced that the city would have enough of a water supply that there would not need to be lawn watering restrictions this summer.

Other action

The council also:

• Approved a resolution in support of the hydropower project electricity provider Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska is working on, but with a caveat that the city expects MEAN to reconsider supporting the proposed waste-to-energy project in Fort Morgan.

• Held a public hearing and gave final approval to Ordinance No. 1146 adopting updated floodplain regulations; that met the state's deadline for updating the regulations. No one from the public spoke at the hearing,

• Approved spending up to $40,000 with Buchanan Construction for new fence construction on property the city owns along the South Platte River between Main Street and Barlow Road. The flood destroyed much of the fencing used to keep livestock in on Twamore Farms, according to Public Works Director/Engineer Brad Curtis, but insurance covered replacing it.

• Reappointed Fort Morgan High School student Matthew Sharp to the Library Advisory Board; he previously was appointed to complete the term vacated when former board member and FMHS student Trenton Klimper graduated and headed to college.

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